Long time, hello.

I had to take a moment to acknowledge Kelela’s new video “Blue Light.”. This is the second single off her debut album Take Me Apart. LMK saw Kelela in a party setting, but this video takes a more artistic nod. Her skin bathed in the color blue, which I’m sure has some connection to love, truth, peace and tranquility.

If not that,  this quote from an interview in The Quietus, sums it up..

Regardless, the video is as intriguing as Kelela herself. Do check it out.

Avery Sunshine has a new album on the way called “Twenty Sixty Four.”

It will be released on April 21; so she is on the publicity circuit to let the world know, it’s time to *ahem* shine. Last week, Avery warmed up the set of Billboard Live with a 20 minute, four song, acoustic set. Her husband Dana played the guitar; it was soothing and yes, soulful music.

In between songs, Avery chatted and told stories.

What does Twenty Sixty Four mean? This was a great one.

That is such a simple and real thought. I felt that: 2064. Let’s take this to 91.

She followed the story with a performance of their wedding song, “The Ice Cream Song.” You can fast forward to 12:15 for that, but I encourage you to listen to the whole set. It’s worth it.

Lets give Emeli Sande’ a well deserved round of applause. “The Garden” is a winner. Emeli has been around for years, but it’s hard to put a finger on her sound. Click play on this video and you are immediately hit in the head with a slow-bop beat enhanced with dark, sophisticated, stylish visuals that she proceeds to drizzle with sweet vocal stylings, all around the edges. We’ve just been transported into the garden.

Though, there is nothing more annoying than a random something taking you out of the zone. Every couple of seconds a guy looks right at the camera. Once, twice, five times. It’s all through the video.

It throws the song off!

So I’m thinking, there must be a reason. Emeli is clearly singing about being ready for love, but it doesn’t explain these stares. So let’s check the lyrics for context and potential explanations.

Aine Zion does set the stage with this opening lyric

“I’m not telling you to love what I love
I’m asking you to take time to know what it is that you love and love with
And do what you can not to offend your sensitive soul”

And later..

“Be my confidant, my shoulder, my diary, my best friend
My mentor, my lover, my teacher, my preacher, my one and ending
My everything”

And Jay Electronica delivers with..

“Once upon a time ago
I threw my cautions to the wind, my friend
And yelled, “Geronimo!”
And rode the wings of love to outer space
But then I fell a thousand miles to Guantanamo
Euphoria to torture..”

“Body after body after body
It’s a landfill..”

“Your garden is my sanctuary.”

There we are. The Garden is about taking a chance on love.

Opening yourself up to someone emotionally; spending time and experiences with them; and yes, sexually. Love can go wrong, but with all that can go good, take that leap.

Still, does this mean you wind up, face down in the grass with a handful of roses? Maybe I haven’t plucked the right flowers from the garden.

Hip-hop on vinyl was birthed in the late 70’s. It is now 2016. That’s a few generations and every 5-6 years a dominant sound emerged. In the late 80’s De La Soul was on the front lines of a new wave of artists that reached for more diverse sample sources and more importantly, opened the way for hip-hop artists to be creative, but come as you are. No need for street credibility, being yourself was cool - that included their fans.

In the summer of 89’ when the slow thump of “Plug Tunin” was first heard on the radio/on my Brooklyn block, it was definitely the start of a new era.

On August 26, De La Soul released their eighth studio album, “and the Anonymous Nobody.” Mass Appeal promoted the release with a 30 minute retrospective of De La Soul’s career. The video features interviews with…

Prince Paul

“I love ‘Stakes is High.’ I wish my son was here. He was a baby, like four years old then, but we used to listen to that non-stop. Ironically I should be like, ‘Argh, these guys’, but that’s my favorite De la album, out off of the records.”

Monica Lynch

“I first heard of De La Soul when I got a call from Daddy-O from Stetsasonic. He brought me ‘Plug Tunin’ and ‘Freedom of Speak.’ First of all, I was like this sounds like it was mixed with like sand and dirt. It was so dusted sounding. It was so different.”

“When I heard De La Soul the first time, I thought this is going to do nothing or it’s going to be really big. It was so bizarre compared to anything out.”

and of course, De La Soul.

Well worth the 30 minutes. Enjoy.

UK artist, FKA Twigs debut album “LP 1” will be released on August 12.  On Monday, she released the video for the first single “Two Weeks” and it is phenomenal. If for no other reason than it’s use of minimalism.

We’re talking one scene, the camera pans down, taking about half of the song to fully unveil Queen Twigs basking in Egyptian splendor with the many FKA Twigs dancers at her feet. Unconsciously being forced to slow down to watch this happen, with the lush music and vocals, gives the video a cinematic touch.

FKA Twigs is an artist who continues to express her individuality by intentionally coloring at the edge of and mostly, beyond the outlines of current trends; living the artist’s way.

Unique, these days.